Psychology and mental health

To study the physiological basis of psychiatric disorders, research is often done comparing the response of normal control subjects with the response of psychiatric patients to various medications. There is a hypothesis that abnormal function of the neurotransmitter dopamine is a cause of schizophrenia, and dopamine agonists have been shown to affect growth hormone (GH) responses in schizophrenia. In this study, the researchers administered the growth hormone releasing-hormone (GH-RH), which is normally released through the hypothalamus and then stimulates the pituitary gland to release growth hormone (GH), to 10 schizophrenic patients and five normal subjects. This was done to evaluate pituitary function. Blood samples, vital signs, and side effects were noted for two hours after the infusion of GH-RH. No significant differences were found between the schizophrenic patients and the control group on any variables of GH response over time. These results suggest that the pathology in GH responsiveness noted in schizophrenia originates at a level above the pituitary. Studies involving larger groups of patients and controls are recommended before overall conclusions are made. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Clozapine proves to be effective as an antipsychotic drug because it does not induce any known extrapyramidal side effects or any potentially life-threatening reaction. Treatment of a single white man with schizophrenia initially proves difficult because of the long duration of untreated symptoms. Clozapine reduced his negative symptoms which, prior to his medication, included lack of insight and decisiveness.

First-episode psychosis in a managed care setting: clinical management and research

Article Abstract:

Researchers describe the case of a 17-year-old girl covered by a managed care plan who developed schizophrenia. Managed care organizations need to understand that schizophrenia is a chronic disease and may not respond rapidly to treatment.